U.S. patent application number 12/876216 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-08 for managing transactions of broker affiliates.
This patent application is currently assigned to STUBHUB, INC.. Invention is credited to Jacob M. Dubin, Jerry L. Thompson.
Application Number | 20110218878 12/876216 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34062273 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110218878 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dubin; Jacob M. ; et
al. |
September 8, 2011 |
MANAGING TRANSACTIONS OF BROKER AFFILIATES
Abstract
A distributed network transaction system and method includes a
central exchange computer connected via the Internet (world wide
web) to multiple remote computers associated with, for example,
individual brokers. A central database is provided with the
exchange computer and each remote computer can have a respective
database for information that the individual brokers was to
maintain separate from the system. E-commerce transactions are
conducted by the system, which performs a number of
transaction-related functions, such as pushing tickets up to the
system for sale, purchasing tickets online, shipping, web
site-related and bookkeeping. The system and methodology
accommodate price event functions where non real-time tickets can
be sold and the orders filled with tickets acquired on the
system.
Inventors: |
Dubin; Jacob M.; (Lee's
Summit, MO) ; Thompson; Jerry L.; (Shawnee,
KS) |
Assignee: |
STUBHUB, INC.
San Francisco
CA
|
Family ID: |
34062273 |
Appl. No.: |
12/876216 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10606086 |
Jun 25, 2003 |
7792700 |
|
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12876216 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0601 20130101;
G06Q 30/0625 20130101; G06Q 30/0643 20130101; G06Q 30/0627
20130101; G06Q 30/0623 20130101; G06Q 30/0641 20130101; G06Q
30/0613 20130101; G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06Q 10/02 20130101; G06Q
30/0607 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26.41 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A method of managing electronic commerce transactions involving
goods or services, the method comprising: receiving at a computer
system information corresponding to goods or services available for
sale to customers by broker affiliates of the computer system;
maintaining a rules set at the computer system specifying
transaction conditions with respect to goods or services available
from an originating broker affiliate that have been identified by
the originating broker affiliate as being available for posting by
other broker affiliates on respective websites of the other broker
affiliates; and managing electronic commerce transactions involving
sales of goods or services available from the originating broker
affiliate that are posted on the respective websites of the other
broker affiliates and sold to customers by the other broker
affiliates in accordance with the transaction conditions.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving information
from the originating broker affiliate comprising one or more groups
of goods or services identified by the originating broker affiliate
as available for sale directly to customers; and sending the one or
more groups of goods or services identified by the originating
broker affiliate as available for sale directly to customers for
posting on a website of the originating broker affiliate hosted by
the computer system.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more groups of goods
or services identified by the originating broker affiliate as
available for sale directly to customers include a group of goods
or services identified by the originating broker affiliate as being
available for posting by the other broker affiliates on the
respective websites of the other broker affiliates.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the respective
websites of the other broker affiliates are hosted by the computer
system.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the rules set specifies posting
conditions identifying broker affiliates which are allowed to post
goods or services available from the originating broker affiliate
and identifying broker affiliates which are not allowed to post
goods or services available from the originating broker
affiliate.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the posting conditions specify a
required price markup for broker affiliates which are allowed to
post goods or services available from the originating broker
affiliate.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: posting one or more
groups of goods or services available for sale that are not
possessed by the originating broker affiliate; receiving a purchase
order involving the one or more groups of goods or services that
are not possessed by the originating broker affiliate; and managing
an electronic commerce transaction conducted by the originating
broker affiliate to procure goods or services for fulfilling the
purchase order.
8. One or more computer-readable storage devices storing executable
computer program instructions that when executed cause a computer
system to: receive at the computer system information corresponding
to goods or services available for sale to customers by broker
affiliates of the computer system; maintain a rules set at the
computer system specifying transaction conditions with respect to
goods or services available from an originating broker affiliate
that have been identified by the originating broker affiliate as
being available for posting by other broker affiliates on
respective websites of the other broker affiliates; and manage
electronic commerce transactions involving sales of goods or
services available from the originating broker affiliate that are
posted on the respective websites of the other broker affiliates
and sold to customers by the other broker affiliates in accordance
with the transaction conditions.
9. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 8,
further storing computer program instructions for: receiving
information from the originating broker affiliate comprising one or
more groups of goods or services identified by the originating
broker affiliate as available for sale directly to customers; and
sending the one or more groups of goods or services identified by
the originating broker affiliate as available for sale directly to
customers for posting on a website of the originating broker
affiliate hosted by the computer system.
10. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 9,
wherein the one or more groups of goods or services identified by
the originating broker affiliate as available for sale directly to
customers include a group of goods or services identified by the
originating broker affiliate as being available for posting by the
other broker affiliates on the respective websites of the other
broker affiliates.
11. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 8,
wherein one or more of the respective websites of the other broker
affiliates are hosted by the computer system.
12. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 8,
wherein the rules set specifies posting conditions identifying
broker affiliates which are allowed to post goods or services
available from the originating broker affiliate and identifying
broker affiliates which are not allowed to post goods or services
available from the originating broker affiliate.
13. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 12,
wherein the posting conditions specify a required price markup for
broker affiliates which are allowed to post goods or services
available from the originating broker affiliate.
14. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 8,
further storing computer program instructions for: posting one or
more groups of goods or services available for sale that are not
possessed by the originating broker affiliate; receiving a purchase
order involving the one or more groups of goods or services that
are not possessed by the originating broker affiliate; and managing
an electronic commerce transaction conducted by the originating
broker affiliate to procure goods or services for fulfilling the
purchase order.
15. A computer system comprising one or more servers configured to:
receive information corresponding to goods or services available
for sale to customers by broker affiliates of the computer system;
maintain a rules set specifying transaction conditions with respect
to goods or services available from an originating broker affiliate
that have been identified by the originating broker affiliate as
being available for posting by other broker affiliates on
respective websites of the other broker affiliates; and manage
electronic commerce transactions involving sales of goods or
services available from the originating broker affiliate that are
posted on the respective websites of the other broker affiliates
and sold to customers by the other broker affiliates in accordance
with the transaction conditions.
16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the one or more
servers are configured to: receive information from the originating
broker affiliate comprising one or more groups of goods or services
identified by the originating broker affiliate as available for
sale directly to customers; and send the one or more groups of
goods or services identified by the originating broker affiliate as
available for sale directly to customers for posting on a website
of the originating broker affiliate hosted by the computer
system.
17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the one or more groups
of goods or services identified by the originating broker affiliate
as available for sale directly to customers include a group of
goods or services identified by the originating broker affiliate as
being available for posting by the other broker affiliates on the
respective websites of the other broker affiliates.
18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the rules set
specifies posting conditions identifying broker affiliates which
are allowed to post goods or services available from the
originating broker affiliate and identifying broker affiliates
which are not allowed to post goods or services available from the
originating broker affiliate.
19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the posting conditions
specify a required price markup for broker affiliates which are
allowed to post goods or services available from the originating
broker affiliate.
20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the one or more
servers are configured to: post one or more groups of goods or
services available for sale that are not possessed by the
originating broker affiliate; receive purchase order involving the
one or more groups of goods or services that are not possessed by
the originating broker affiliate; and manage an electronic commerce
transaction conducted by the originating broker affiliate to
procure goods or services for fulfilling the purchase order.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/606,086 titled "METHODS AND
COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE DEVICES FOR MANAGING TRANSACTIONS WITH
MULTIPLE BROKER AFFILIATES" which was filed on Jun. 25, 2003, which
issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,792,700 on Sep. 7, 2010, and which is
expressly incorporated herein by reference for all it discloses and
teaches.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to automated
transaction management, and in particular to a system and method
for managing e-commerce transactions using an Internet (world wide
web) based distributed network with a central exchange server
networked to multiple broker computers.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Various systems and methodologies have previously been
developed for managing commercial transactions involving buyers,
sellers, brokers, agents and other participants. The objects of the
transactions can comprise goods and/or services.
[0006] The Internet (world wide web) has produced many
opportunities for transacting business quickly and efficiently, as
compared to more traditional business transaction methods.
Transacting business via the Internet is sometimes referred to as
"electronic commerce" or "e-commerce". Among its many advantages is
the ability to provide virtually instantaneous, i.e. "real-time",
communication among the participants. Orders can be instantly taken
and processed online from Internet-linked terminals located all
over the world.
[0007] The instantaneous, real-time aspect of e-commerce
particularly lends itself to date-sensitive transactions, i.e.
those presenting relatively limited opportunities for concluding
transactions. For example, tickets to date-specific events and for
date-specific services generally become worthless after expiration.
Sporting and entertainment events are typically booked months in
advance and tickets are presold through various distribution trade
channels and ticket outlets, including e-commerce. The sports and
entertainment industries allocate considerable resources to
matching ticket demand and supply in order to maximize event
attendance and revenue. Although large portions of available seats
are presold months in advance, tickets are often in high demand up
to the last minute. Therefore, an efficient distribution model for
tickets to date-specific events and services would match sellers
holding tickets with buyers in the largest possible customer base,
and provide instantaneous, real-time access to such
information.
[0008] Ticket brokers operating in many areas buy and sell tickets
to various sports and entertainment events. Although the markets
tend to be somewhat localized to particular venues, transactions
are routinely done on a national or even international basis. For
example, through their web pages ticket brokers may encounter
opportunities to purchase tickets from sellers and sell tickets to
buyers in global markets. Moreover, ticket distribution lends
itself to broker-to-broker ("B2B") transactions as different
brokers trade amongst themselves in order to fulfill specific
customer requests. However, automating ticket transactions among
brokers with different inventories and marketing objectives can
involve handling large amounts of data. A need therefore exists for
automating the management of e-commerce transactions involving
tickets and other goods and services.
[0009] Heretofore there has not been available a transaction
management system and method with the advantages and features of
the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In the practice of one aspect of the present invention, a
system is provided for managing commercial transactions. The system
includes a distributed network comprising a central exchange
computer linked to multiple customer/vendor computer systems.
Transaction objects comprising goods and/or services can be bought
and sold using various flexible, redefinable rules governing
various aspects of the transactions. The system is adapted to
interface with other automated business systems, including shipping
and bookkeeping.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and
include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and
illustrate various objects and features thereof.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a distributed network
embodying one aspect of the system of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the distributed network,
showing components thereof.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a table showing broker transaction rules.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the steps in a typical
transaction.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a broker web page.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing components of the
system.
[0018] FIGS. 7-9 are screen displays from a special order system
(SOS) showing examples of functions.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a point-of-sale (POS) system
transaction.
[0020] FIGS. 11-76 are screen displays from the point-of-sale (POS)
system for use by a broker affiliated with the system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] As required, detailed embodiments and/or aspects of the
present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be
understood that the disclosed embodiments/aspects are merely
exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed
herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis
for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one
skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in
virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
[0022] Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference
numeral 2 generally designates a system for managing e-commerce
transactions utilizing a distributed network 4 with a central
exchange computer system 6 and multiple remote computer systems 8
(FIG. 1). Without limitation on the generality of useful
applications of the system 2, an exemplary aspect or application
thereof is described in connection with transactions involving
tickets to events, such as sporting events, entertainment and
theater. The distribution system for such merchandise includes a
central administrator 10 associated with the central exchange
computer 6 and a network of point-of-sale (POS) ticket brokers,
affiliates or dealers 12 associated with respective remote
computers 8. The ticket brokers 12 typically buy from and sell to
their respective customers, who can comprise individual end users
14. The customers can also comprise other brokers 12 in connection
with broker-to-broker (B2B) transactions.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows the central exchange system 6 with a message
server 16 connected to an SQL server 18, which accesses an exchange
database 20. An exchange web service 22 connects the message server
16 to a web server 24. The components of the system 2 can be
programmed with a number of different programming languages using
various suitable programming techniques including, but not limited
to, variations of C (e.g., C++, C#, etc.).
[0024] A web side 26 includes a web page 28 for direct interaction
with other brokers 12 and with end users 14. A broker side 30
includes point-of-sale (POS) software 32 adapted for managing
broker operations. The brokers 12 can interface with the central
exchange system 6 through broker client applications 34, which can
also be programmed with a number of different programming languages
using various suitable programming techniques including, but not
limited to, Visual Basic (VB). The brokers' POS software can
comprise different levels of features and functionalities, such as
the SQL server 36 with a full range of features and
functionalities, and a MySQL server 38 for a reduced-feature
application. The broker-controlled servers 36, 38 can access data
in respective local databases 40 whereby the broker subscribers
control their perspective data in their own databases 39, which are
connected to respective remote computers 8 and can be physically
located at the brokers' respective places of business. The brokers'
computers 8 are adapted for downloading ticket information from and
uploading or "pushing up" ticket information to the central
exchange system 6 according to predetermined rules, at least some
of which are controlled by the brokers 12, as described in more
detail below.
Transactions
[0025] Without limitation on the generality of useful applications
of the invention, an exemplary set of transactions, which can be
managed by the system 2, is described as follows:
[0026] a) Buying and selling tickets directly to the central
exchange system 6.
[0027] b) Posting tickets to the exchange 6 in either real-time
(RT) corresponding to the tickets actually possessed (i.e., in
inventory) by the broker 12, or in non real-time (NRT) representing
orders for tickets to be fulfilled using the system's
resources.
[0028] c) Adding customers, which can comprise either end-user
customers 14 or other brokers 12, to the exchange database 20.
[0029] d) Reserving tickets.
[0030] e) Buying tickets.
[0031] f) Selling tickets.
[0032] g) Buying tickets and reselling to customers (single
transaction).
[0033] h) Obtaining customer information.
[0034] i) Unreserving tickets.
[0035] j) Verifying ticket existence.
[0036] k) Updating exchange application through message server
16.
[0037] l) Remote debugging through the SQL 18.
[0038] m) Checking status of pending orders.
[0039] n) Obtaining remote order listing.
[0040] o) Generic exchange, i.e. getting invoice data, purchase
order data and/or billing data including markups, without building
a customer record.
[0041] p) Getting global updates and of events including
downloading latest event lists from the central exchange server 6
and pushing up event lists from brokers 12 for comparison with
current lists and updating same, if necessary.
Ticket Grouping
[0042] The ticket grouping function forms groups of tickets by
internally matching certain criteria, such as event, date, time,
section, row, face value and price. For example, when the queue
record indicates that tickets are to be added to the exchange, the
broker's local database 20 is searched for internal matches whereby
groups are created. Customers requesting certain blocks of adjacent
or contiguous seats at specific events can thus be accommodated.
Moreover, the system forms such groups based on price whereby all
of the tickets within particular groups have common pricing.
Pricing can be considered in connection with face value, customer
list price (corresponding to broker selling price) and broker
wholesale price. Moreover, certain entities, such as the city of
Chicago, impose sales tax on ticket sales, which is calculated by
the system 2 and added to the ticket selling price. Moreover,
certain states restrict prices for reselling tickets, which
restrictions can be accommodated by the system 2 in connection with
ticket pricing.
[0043] The ticket grouping function can increase system efficiency
and transaction speed in connection with posting tickets. In
particular, groups of tickets comprise less data than the same
tickets handled individually, whereby less data is pushed back and
forth and greater speed is realized when the grouping function is
utilized for posting tickets.
Priced Events
[0044] Priced event transactions involve non real time (NRT) ticket
inventory whereby brokers 12 can offer for sale tickets that they
don't actually possess. Priced event tickets can be ordered by
customers 14 in real-time (RT) transactions. The brokers 12 then
procure the necessary presold, priced event tickets by using the
resources of the system 2, or by procuring them from their own
sources. Real-time (RT) inventories, by contrast, comprise tickets
actually possessed by the brokers 12.
[0045] Priced event sales occur in real-time when customers place
orders for specific numbers of tickets to specific events. The
system generally accommodates selecting seating areas in priced
events. For example, seats are commonly located by section, row and
seat number in many venues, with ticket pricing corresponding to
seat locations. Thus, priced event customers can order tickets
online with a particular broker 12 or with the central exchange 6.
The orders can specify the seating areas. The central database 20
is then searched by the system and the orders are filled as tickets
become available. The central exchange 6 provides seating section
information for venues. For example, broker affiliates 12 can
access graphical displays of seating in particular venues, with
seating sections designated alphanumerically or in colors to assist
in ticket selection for priced events and real-time purchases. For
example, the information in a priced event order can comprise an
identification of the event, the desired seating sections (e.g., by
letter or color designation), ticket quantity and ticket price.
[0046] The priced event function of the present invention
facilitates sharing inventory by the broker affiliates 12 to the
exchange 6, thus broadening the potential customer base
system-wide. However, the broker affiliate 12 relinquishes tickets
from its own inventory, thus possibly losing the opportunity for
direct sales. The system accommodates the broker affiliates by
enabling them to set certain rules for offering and selling their
tickets on the exchange. These rules are listed in FIG. 3, and
generally provide control over such variables as the web sites on
which particular ticket groups are shown, showing ticket groups on
the exchange, which brokers' tickets are shown on other brokers'
web sites, pricing markups and quantity, event and other variable
restrictions.
Other System Components
[0047] FIG. 4 shows the central exchange 6 in relation to other
components of the system 2. The POS 32 is described in more detail
below and generally manages transactions for the brokers 12, who
interface with customers 14. An exchange application 52 connects to
a database server 54, which in turn connects to a bookkeeping
importer 56. The system can be adapted to interface with
bookkeeping systems, including but not limited to QuickBooks
software available from Intuit, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif.
94039. The bookkeeping importer 56 provides for automated record
insertion for financial accounting software. Other suitable
bookkeeping software can be used with the system 2.
[0048] An event processor or special order system (SOS) 58 consists
of a web-based bulletin board through which ticket inventories can
be uploaded and is described in more detail below. The system
further provides general exchange management, web site content
management and shipping management. For example, a shipping manager
system 60 can interface with various third party shipping service
providers, such as overnight mail and courier services. The
shipping manager system can ship, track and delete packages; print
labels; provide customer information; generate various logs and
reports; and print airbills. The central exchange system 6 provides
RT and office-to-office order processing services.
[0049] A ticket uploader 50 is provided for uploading ticket
inventories from other point-of-sale (POS) systems. Therefore, a
broker utilizing another POS system can participate in the
distributed network 4 of the present invention. The participating
broker installs a ticket uploader (TU) program and sets certain
variables, such as the timing of automatic uploading at
predetermined intervals. Alternatively, ticket inventories can be
uploaded manually. The tickets uploaded from these other sources
are automatically placed on the network. Therefore, an extensive
inventory of tickets placed on the web can be placed on the central
exchange 6 for distribution by the brokers 12. Software in the
central exchange 6 is adapted for interfacing with other vending
and distribution systems, such as online auctions. Thus, brokers
can push up their inventories for sale through online, live
auctions. The broker can control various aspects of auction
participation, such as providing templates and managing content.
Moreover, the central exchange 6 takes tickets off the exchange
while they are involved in online auctions and returns them to the
central exchange inventory after the auctions close, all under the
direction of the participating broker 12, which can set rules for
such transactions.
[0050] A website plug-in component 62 is available for the use of
web customers 64 in creating their own websites for e-commerce
utilizing the exchange network and the distributed network. A web
page template 40 is shown in FIG. 5 and includes a body 42, which
can display a default body provided by the system 2, or can be
customized by the broker 12. A header 44 and a footer 46 are also
provided and are adapted for customizing by a particular broker 12
or web customers 64. As shown in FIG. 5, the header 44 and the
footer 46 wrap the body 42 and show on all pages of the web site.
Examples of features available for customization by the brokers
include plug-in fonts, sizes, colors, etc. Brokers 12 are thus able
to graphically individualize their web sites for promoting their
respective businesses and for distinguishing them from other web
sites. The body 42 typically includes a search page, search
results, ASP events page and category lists. The HTML information
is stored in the system database.
Special Order System (POS)
[0051] FIGS. 6-9 show special order system (SOS) components and
functionalities. FIG. 6 shows the screen displays for searching SOS
events and providing ticket information, including "fake" tickets
as described above. FIG. 7 is an SOS screen display showing
possible ticket splits based on rules governing sales from packages
of tickets. FIG. 8 shows broker settings, including markups. FIG. 9
shows web settings.
Point-of-Sale (POS)
[0052] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a typical transaction handled
by the POS system associated with a broker 12. The following
description of the point-of-sale (POS) system and methodology
applies to the management of transactions by a broker affiliate 12.
FIG. 11 is a screen display of settings for a full-featured version
of the software, including transactional defaults. FIG. 12 shows
the settings screen for a reduced-feature version of the software,
which implements the system and methodology of the present
invention. FIG. 13 shows the screens for entering a new purchase
order (PO). FIG. 14 shows the screen for searching POs. FIG. 15
shows the screen for creating mass PO tickets. FIG. 16 shows the
screen for searching for mass POs, advanced quotes or cancelled
POs. FIG. 17 shows the screen for advanced quotes. FIG. 18 shows
the screen for the PO queue. FIG. 19 shows the sales screen for
pending preorders, utilizing the value event pricing function
described above. FIG. 20 shows the screen for order completion.
FIG. 21 shows the inventory screen. The screen that is presented by
selecting the "Set/Reserve" option is shown in FIG. 22.
[0053] Within the inventory/exchange grid different colors and
icons can be used to provide certain information about the
applicable tickets. For example, italics can indicate consignment
inventory. Pink can identify reserved inventory. Green designates a
block or group of tickets with section, row and seat information.
Cost highlighted with yellow indicates that the PO has not yet been
completed. NRT brokers are highlighted in yellow, and RT brokers
are highlighted in green. The broker's name in pink indicates the
broker's own tickets. "In" with a checkmark indicates that the
tickets were added as "In Hand". "W" with a mouse icon indicates
that the tickets are shared to the web. "X" with a red ticket icon
indicates that the tickets are shared to the exchange. "Loc"
indicates the office locations from which the tickets were
added.
[0054] FIG. 23 shows a pre orders screen, and FIG. 24 shows the
comparable screen from the reduced-feature software version. FIG.
25 shows the screens that are applicable to types of deposit
payments. FIG. 26 shows the screen for adding new customers,
searching for customer information, modifying an existing sale or
PO or creating a new sale. FIG. 27 shows the screen for retrieving
exchange broker information. FIGS. 28 and 29 are inventory
management screens.
[0055] The system accommodates sharing tickets with other exchange
systems through the screen shown in FIG. 30. Pre order pricing with
price and quantity settings is shown in FIG. 31. FIG. 32 shows the
screen for categorizing ticket inventory. FIG. 33 shows the screen
for adding headliners for events to the brokers' databases. FIG. 34
shows the screen for adding, deleting and modifying options for
customer types, office locations, shipping types and the discounts
to the database. FIG. 35 is a referral list screen for adding and
deleting customer referrals. FIG. 36 is a shopping cart screen. The
broker-to-broker (B2B) screen FIG. 37 permits regulating payment
types and reserved times individually for all of the brokers 12 who
use the exchange.
[0056] FIG. 38 is a report mailing list screen. FIG. 39 is a screen
for event reporting and FIG. 40 shows current events. FIG. 41 is a
sold tickets search utility and FIG. 42 shows a sold tickets
report. FIG. 43 shows a reserve ticket list. FIG. 44 shows an
expired inventory report, which is automatically generated. FIG. 45
shows an automatically generated report of tickets with no purchase
orders. FIG. 46 shows an automatically generated sold tickets
report. FIG. 47 shows a fax list search report. FIG. 48 shows a
sample fax form. FIG. 49 shows a fax list for a number of days and
FIG. 50 shows the automatically generated report. FIGS. 51-54 show
shipping, invoice, PO and web sales register screens respectively.
FIG. 55 shows exchange transactions. FIG. 56 shows sales by event
and FIG. 57 shows sales by payment type. FIG. 58 shows daily
payments and deposits. FIG. 59 shows daily purchases by payment
type. FIG. 60 shows canceled orders. FIGS. 61 and 62 show tax
information pertinent to the city of Chicago. FIG. 63 shows
purchases for an event. FIG. 64 is an event picker. FIG. 65 shows
purchase orders by event. FIG. 66 shows an example of a screen
displaying event sales. FIG. 67 shows an event sales report. FIGS.
68-71 show weekly sales report information. FIG. 72 shows an event
profit/situation screen. FIG. 73 shows selected events. FIG. 74
shows a daily total report. FIG. 75 shows a custom web sales
representatives and dates report. FIG. 76 shows a sales report,
including a breakdown by representative.
[0057] It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or
aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the
invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other
embodiments and aspects.
* * * * *